Fastening device



G. A. TINNERMAN FASTENING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed April 24, 1939 lINVENTOR.

BY 550,955 H.' WMV/EMWIN .Imml 1o, 1941.

June 10, 1941.A G. A. TINNERMAN FASTENING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1959 2sheets-shet 2' INVENTOR.

N www E UFO MA A Patented June 10, 1941 FAsTENmG DEVICE George A.Tinnerman, Rocky River, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, toTinnerman Products, Inc., Ohio Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation o.

Appllcatipp April 24, 1939. serial No. 269,726 `(ol. lxs-'5) 8 Claims.

This invention relates to fastening devices, and particularly to thosethat are constructed of sheet metal, cold rolled metal and the like. Thepresent application is a continuation in part of my copendingapplication, Serial No. 213,219, filed June 11, 1938, and since issuedas United States Patent No. 2,156,003, April 25, 1939.

'I'he device of the present application is useful in many ways. Forexample, it may be utilized in holding two articles together through themedium of a projection that forms part of one of the articles, or may bevuseful in coacting' with thethread of a bolt to secure two partstogether. Other uses include a bearing in which an article, such as ashaft or stem, is slidably or rotatably positioned either with orwithout indexing means for retaining the slidable member in anyselective position with relation to a support. 'I'he fastener may alsobe used in holding articles that are made of plastic materials, or diecastings, and examples of such application comprise, nameplates, doorpulls, bracket supports, or any other instance where the fastener isaccessible from one side only of the device on which the article isintended to be used.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a. fasteningdevicel which may be positioned upon one article merely by inserting itthrough an opening therein, and which will automatically eil'ect alocking action therewith sufficient to retain it 'in place until itreceives any article that-is intended to be inserted thereinto.

An additional object is to provide a combination of article andfastening device by means of which the article is automatically lockedin place upon the fastener byl insertion thefreto whereby an automaticlocking connection is made merely by moving the parts into juxtaposedrelationship.

Referring now to the drawings; Fig. 1 is a vi'ew partly in section andpartly in elevation, 'of a fastener embodying one form of the invention;Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the fastener snown in Fig. 1,and illustrates how it is extended through an opening in a part to bejoined; Fig. 3 is' a section taken on the line' 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4isa longitudinal section similar to that of Fig. 2, but illustrating anarticle having a portion thereof extending into the fastener and beingheld thereby; Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section through a modified formof construction showing the utility for holding an article, such as aporcelain knob, that may be utilized for retaining a shelf in placewithina refrigerator; Fig. 6 is a section through a modified form ofconstruction and illustrating the fastener in applied position upon onepart; Fig. 7 is a section taken on the plane indicated by the line l-lin Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 8-8 inFig. 10 through a fastener which functions as a bearing for a memberthat is adapted to be moved axially therein, and to be sup-` portedthereby; Fig. 9 is a section taken on the 'line 9 9 in Fig. 10; Fig. 10is a section taken on the line lue-l0 in Fig. 9: Fig'.11 is a sectionthrough a modified form of fastener construction showing what might betermed a non-removable fastener; Fig. 12 is a top plan view of Fig. 11when the fastener is unattached: F18. `13 is a section through anon-removable fastener having a formation -thatadapts itfor engaging thethread of a bolt andv cooperating therewith. to retain the bolt inapplied position; Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section through. anon-removable fastener which functions as a. bearing to support a memberwhich is intended to move axially therein.

The fastening devices illustrated are preferably formed from asubstantially rectangular section of sheet metal,`or strip stock of thedesired width. The blank is suitably slit and deformed tomake thedesired yielding and holding formations and is then shaped to form ahollow body which may have a longitudinally extending slit that permitsa slight expansion to accommodate an article that is insertedtherethrough; and the degree of pressure that is intended to be exertedupon the article may be varied by proportioning the cross-sectional areaofthe hollow body to that of the article to be inserted therethrough: atighter t being chosen in those instances where relatively greaterfrictional contact between the fastener and associated article isdesired.

Referring first to the fastener illustrated in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, theblank is formed to provide a hollow bodyv l0 which has a flange Il atone end thereof and which is illustrated as being in the form of aslitted tube wherein the slit l2 may extend the iull length of the tube.The body is shown as having yieldable fingers I3 that are deformedtherefrom to provide shoulders Il which, as shown in Fig. 2, are adaptedto engage each of the openings I5 adjacent the face I'l through whichthe fastener has been passed in such applied position. The flange I Iengages the face I8 and the spacing between the flange and the shouldersis so positioned as to effect `a.

' relatively snug fit between the fastener and the part I8.

To retain an article in close relationship to the I part I6. I prefer toprovide an article gripping portion adjacent the end opposite theflange, preferably by cupping` the metal inwardly around the peripheryof the end, as indicated at 20. The extent of the cupped portion isgoverned by the degree of friction desired between the fastener and thearticle such as a stud 2I that projects from the part 22. In theillustration of Fig. 4 the stud A2| is inserted into the fastener fromthe same side of the part I6 from which the fastener is inserted intothe opening I5, and during the inserting operation, the stud spreads thefastener so as to press that portion adjacent the flange firmly intocontact with the wall of the opening and also spreads the portionadjacent. the end opposite the flange outwardly whereby the stud may befirmly' gripped at more' than one point by the y fastener.

In the modification vof Fig. 5, the fastener` is inserted through thepart I6 from one side thereof while the article to be attached theretois positioned on the opposite side thereof. In this illustration, theattaching ,article comprises a bracket which may be in the form of aknob and may be madevof any desired material. As illustrated,

it has a hollow interior 26 preferably in' the form of-a pocket, andastud 2'IA which is' adapted to en- `ter the fastener from the endopposite the flange II. To facilitate such insertion, the portionadjacent lthe end is aredas at 28, and the crosssectional area of thestud and the body of the fastener is so proportioned that the fasteneris y sprung outwardly during the inserting operation whereby africtional contact is maintained at the completion o'faninsertingoperationi- To increase the frictional contact,- I have showntongues or t prongs 30 which are deformed from the body'near the end 28thereof and which may extend toward the flange II and in an outwarddirection sufficiently far to engage the wall 3I and to exert 0frictional pressure thereagalnst so as yieldingly to. resist movement ofthe knob away from the part I6. During the inserting operation, thefastenerwis-preventedv fromebeingdorced` throngl'rthe r part I6 byengagement of the shoulders I4 with the edge of the opening -in the partI6. The fas- 15 tener of Fig. 5 has a slit I2 extending longitudinallythereof, as described in connection with -the fastener of Figs. 1-4,inclusive, to assure coopera- Y tive resiliency in the'assembly.

The fastener shown in Figs. G'and 7 employs 0 amodified form of meansfor retaining itself in article receiving position upon a support, andin this modifled form, the parts which correspond tothe fastener of Fig.1 bear corresponding reference characters. The shoulders I4, however,are formed by one or more protuberances that are struck from the body ata predetermined distance from the fiange to assure a relatively snug fltagainst the part I6. In this form, I may, if -desired, utilize thearticle engaging portion 20 or 30 of Figs. 1` and 5 respectively, or Imay provide prongs whichextend inwardly of the body adjacent the slitI2. The degree of pressure to be exerted against an article that isinserted through the fastener mayvary considerably in proportion to theextent that the prongs 35 are bent inwardly with respect to the body'.

'I'he modification shown in Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive, permits theuse ofthe fastener as a bearing for a shaft or rod that extends therethrough.Accordingly it may have a hollow body I0 which Ais substantially uniformin cross-sectional area throughout its length and may have a flange IIand yieldable fingers I3 integral therewith for re- `75 ceiving a partI6 and holding itself in article receiving position thereon.Additionally, ifl de- Y sired, the body may have one or more inwardlyextending protuberances 40 which are adapted to engage the shaft or rod4I for the purpose of indexing it at a' definite location with referenceto the fastener. A suitable groove 42 extending peripherally on the rodmay receive the protuberances 40 whenever the rod is moved withreference to the fastener, to the point where registration is made.between` a protuberance and the- In this form as in the previouslydegroove. scribed forms, the slit I2 may extend longitudinally of thefastener to provide resiliency in the assembly, and here again thedegree of friction desired maybe controlled by choosing acrosssectionalarea of the fastener in accordance with that of the rod that is to beinserted therethrough.

- The fasteners previously described have a hollow body that issubstantially cylindrical in shape. In Figs. 11 and 12, however, I haveshown a fastenery the body- III of which is non-circular, such asrectangular in cross-section. This shape produces a non-rotatablefastener which is highly advantageous. In holding a narneplate or otherarticle in non-rotative position upon a support, as, for instancepinautomotive assembly where the name `of the vehicle appears on the sideof the,`

hood with individual letters and where it is important that each letterremain/'permanently in -non-rotatable position. To Lthis end, the partI6 has an opening I5 that is complementarily shaped to thecross-sectional form of the fastener body and likewise the stud 45of-the buttonv or partl 4 6 has a cross-sectional shape which iscomplementary tothe cross-sectional shape of the fastener body.. -In theform of fastener if desired, the

nger I3 may. be extended outwardly and terminate near the extreme limitof the outermost position so as to provide siifcient space into whichthe part I6 may exten'd after the fastener has been passed through theopening I5. It is to be "understood -that' duringY the` inserting'operatiom the fingers I3 yield inwardly to permit passage through the.opening I5 but as soon as the ends of the fingers clear Vthe part I6they spring outwardly to engage the side I1 and thereby prevent removalof the fastener merely by the exertion of pressure thereagainst in anendwise direction. This type of fastener may thusbe termed anonremovable device. The fastener may also be arranged to engagefrictionally, the stud 45 and for such purpose, I have illustratedinturned portions 46 that engage opposite walls of the stud 45and thatare yieldable to provide resiliency in the assembly. It is to beunderstood, however, that if desired, the fastener may be provided withfingers such as that shown in Fig. 1, or it may be shaped as vshown inany of the drawingsA to suit the tions 5I.. Here again the body of thefastener may be shaped as shown inFig. 12 to prevent rotation thereofduring the turning of the bolt. and likewise the body maybe madenon-remov- .fastener may be supported upon the able by utilizing fingersI3. that engage the part I8 at points remote from the wall of theopening I5 after the fastener has been passed there-A through. Thefastener shown in this modification may or may not have thelongitudinally extending slit depending upon the pressure that isrequired between the bolt and the fastener. Thus, for installationsIwhere only a light load is carried the use of a slit would hasten theassembly, but where a heavy load is to be carried the resistance againstoutward movement would have advantages that could be obtained by soforming the body that the edges along which the slit would normally beformed are brought into abutting relationship.

In Fig. 14, I have shown a fastener that is intended to provide abearing for a rod or shaft either for axial movement within the fasteneror for rotation with respect thereto. To accomplish this, I have shownthe body I as being substantially cylindrical in shape and as havingfingers I3 which are shaped similarly to those of Fig. 11 for engagingthe side of a part i6 opposite to that engaged by the flange II. Thefingers, however,

may, if desired be made as shown in Fig. 1, but

in either case the arrangement is such that the part i6 for reception ofthe shaft or rod 4I.

An advantage of a fastener made in accordance with the present inventionis the fact that articles may be held in assembled relationship eitherby insertion from one 0r the other side of a support, depending upon thecharacter of the device in which it is to be employed and that the partsmay be frictionally held or locked in coacting position in a simple andexpeditious manner.

The fastener illustrated in Fig. 5 is -normally concealed from view andyet the article supported thereby is firmly held in operative position.Other modifications shown assure effective locking action between twoparts to be joined without permitting rotation therebetween. This ishighly.advantageous for holding certain articles that should not becapable of rotation in assembled position. The fastener also lendsitself to the reception and operation of a rod or shaft for axialmovement or rotation and for indexing the rod to any desired positionwith reference to the fastener.

I claim: f 1. A fastening device comprising a hollow flexible sheetmetal body open at both ends and having spaced shoulders adjacent oneend thereof for 'engaging in an aperture in a support and retainingitself in article receiving position thereon, at least one of saidshoulders comprising a protuberance that is deformed from the body andextends outwardly thereof, said body being adapted to receive a studexpanding the same and urging said protuberance thereon to a positionpositively retaining said body in fastening position in said aperture.

2. A `fastener comprising a sheet metal body having spaced inner wallsadapted to receive a stud therebetween, said body being provided with aflange and a flexible finger extending longitudinally of said body, saidfinger defining a shoulder projecting outwardly of said'body and a studengaging portion extending inwardly into the space within said innerwalls of the body, said body being receivable in an opening in a supportwith said flange and shoulder of said linger cooperating to engageopposite sides of said support to retain the fastener thereon infastening position, said body receiving said stud in secured relation tosaid support in such fastening position.

3. A fastener comprising a hollow sheet metal body vhaving spaced innerwalls adapted to receive a stud therebetween, a flange adjacent one endof said body and means adjacent the other end for engaging said stud. aflexible finger extending longitudinally of said body, said lingerdefining a shoulder projecting outwardly oi' said .body and a studengagingportion extending in- 'wardly into the space within said innerwalls of the body, said body being receivable in an opening in a supportwith said flange and shoulder of said nger cooperating to engageopposite sides of said support to retain the fastener thereon infastening position, said body receiving said stud in secured relation tosaid support in such fastening position.

4. A fastener comprising 4a sheetA metal body.

having spaced inner walls adapted to receive a stud therebetween, aflange on said-body, a flexible linger having a free end portion andextending longitudinally of said body, said finger defining a shoulderprojecting outwardly of said body with the free end portion thereofextending inwardly into the space within said inner walls of lthe `body,said body being receivable in an opening in a support with said flangeand shoulder of said finger cooperating to engage opposite sides of saidsupport to retain the fastener thereon in fastening position, said bodyreceiving said stud -in`such fastening .position and said free endportion of the finger defining means for engaging said stud in securedrelation to said support.

5. A fastener comprising a hollow sheet metal body adapted to receive astud, a flange adjacent one end of said Ibody, inwardly bent meansadjacent the other end for engaging said stud, a flexible fingerextending longitudinally of said body, said iilnger defining a shoulder`projecting outwardly of said body and having its free end portionextending inwardly of said body, said body being receivable in lanopening in a support with said flange and the shoulder defined by saidlinger -body adapted to receive a stud, a flange adjacent one end ofsaid body, the other end being cupped inwardly for engaging said stud, aflexible finger extendingv Ilongitudinally of said body, said fingerdefining a shoulder projecting' outwardly of said body and having itsiree end portion extending inwardly of said body, said body beingreceivable in an opening in a support with said flange and the shoulderdefined by vsaid finger cooperating in engaging opposite sides of saidsupport to retain the fastener thereon in fastening position,

Vsaid body receiving said stud in secured relation to said support insuch fastening position.

7. A fastener comprising a hollow sheet metal body adapted to receive astud, a dange adjacent one end of .said body, substantial tongues or thelike projecting from said body for engaging a part outwardly thereof, aflexible finger extending longitudinally of said body, said fingerdefining a shoulder projecting outwardly of said body and having itsfree end portion extending inwardly lof said body, said body beingreceivable in an opening in a support with said flange and the shoulderdefined by 'said finger cooperating in engaging opposite sides of saidsupport to retain the fastener thereon in fastening position, saidhaving its free' end fportion extending inwardly body receiving saidstud in secured relation to of said body,.said body being receivable inan said support in such fastening position. opening 4in a support withsaid iiange'v and the 8. A fastener comprising a hollow sheet metalshoulder defined by said finger cooperating in enbod'y adapted toreceive a stud, a flange adjacent 5 gaging opposite sides of saidsupport to retain the one end of said body; substantial protuberances'fastener thereon -in fastening position-said body or the like bentinwardly of said body for engagreceiving vsaid stud in secured relationto said ing said stud, a exible finger extending longisupport in suchfastening position.

'tudinally of said body, said nger dening'A a shoulder' projectingoutwardly of said body and 10 GEORGE A.

